John B Madison

John Madison was born July 14, 1947 in Des Moines. Madison was a 1965 graduate of Dowling High School in West Des Moines. He enlisted in the Army in February 1966 as an infantryman. He was attached to Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry in the 1st Cavalry Division. He became a paratrooper and a squad leader while in the 1st Cavalry. He arrived in Vietnam in June 1967. In January 1968 SSGT Madison was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic actions during a search and destroy mission. On February 19 his unit reported him missing. His body was found two days later on February 21 with fatal gunshot wounds. The 20-year-old’s body was buried at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.